Coach Deion Sanders promised the Colorado Buffaloes would be active in the college football transfer portal, and on Monday, he landed his first significant defensive addition: former Alabama Crimson Tide lineman Jeheim Oatis.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Oatis is a prime candidate to replace departing seniors Chidozie Nwankwo and Shane Cokes. Oatis played in 29 games over three seasons with the Crimson Tide, racking up 57 total tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. While dealing with various injuries, Oatis saw limited action this past season and decided to take a redshirt before entering the portal.
A former four-star prospect out of Mississippi, Oatis is the top-ranked transfer portal defensive lineman, according to 247Sports.
Entering his first year of college ball, Oatis tipped the scales at over 400 pounds and wasn’t expecting to play as a freshman. Thanks to a nutrition and workout plan at Alabama, he lost nearly 100 pounds and settled into a comfortable playing weight. Losing that much weight in a short period suggests work ethic will not be an issue.
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